The course was conducted by OFC technical coordinators Colin Tuaa and Didier Chambaron and focused on teaching the participants how to coach children aged between eight and 12.
Over 20 budding coaches took part and Football Federation Samoa (FFS) CEO Fred Young believes the hosting of such courses will soon start to bear fruit.
“We are very pleased that OFC decided to conduct this course in Samoa,” he says.
“It will be very beneficial to the development of the sport here, especially at junior level. If we want to have a good national team we need to start developing the players at a very young age.”
Young is also pleased to have access to the expertise of Tuaa and Chambaron.
“It is great to have two instructors here who can share their vast football experience with the course participants,” he says.
Tuaa is of Samoan descent and became the first Samoan to play for New Zealand national team the All Whites when he starred for the side from 1983 to 1988. The former Auckland City coach played 10 ‘A’ internationals and scored one goal during that period.
He became CEO of FFS in 2008 and played a big role in rebuilding the sport in Samoa by improving its infrastructure and administrative practices.
Chambaron hails from France and turned out as a central defender at the third level of French club football during his playing days. He joined OFC in October and previously worked as a technical director with Federation Caledonniene de Football for four years.
A big part of the course involved the participants putting into practice what they had learned and that proved very helpful to many.
“It’s good to be able to put what I have learned in the classroom into practice when I am coaching children,” participant Maria Tamalelagi says. “It was also great that, during the practical session with the children, the instructors were then able to give me some positive feedback.”
Tuaa hopes those who took part now have a greater understanding about how to coach the game at youth level.
“I hope they understand how to work with children, which is obviously different to working with elite players. I also hope the participants leave the course excited about pursuing a coaching career,” he says.
“For Samoa to develop the game, there has to be good coaches who have the ability to work with young children.”
For more on Samoan football go to www.footballsamoa.ws